Homemade Dog Treats are my favorite way to show my pets that we love them like family! This homemade peanut butter dog treat recipe is an easy dog biscuit that I believe our pups would request every week if they could. I made this recipe in 2013 for my dog Scout, my first baby. I make them now for our two labs, Mabel and Daisy. Every pet deserves the love of a homemade treat and this is just the recipe to give them.

homemade dog treats drizzled with dog friendly icing

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What’s in this Dog Treats recipe?

I made these freshly-baked homemade dog treats to show our pets how special they are! They’re easy to make with just 5 main ingredients, and it’s easy to make extras to keep for later. Trust me, your dogs are going to absolutely love these peanut butter dog treats.

  • Flour: I prefer to use whole wheat flour for dog biscuits for the extra nutritional value. Other types of flour are fine to use, as long as you know your pup isn’t allergic.
  • Peanut Butter: This thickens the mixture into a dough, and adds tasty peanut butter flavor! Use a natural peanut butter and check the ingredients list–do not use anything with Xylitol (an artificial sweetener), which is not safe for dogs.
  • Egg: Binds the ingredients together to form a pet-friendly cookie dough.
  • Water: Adds a bit of moisture to help make the dough pliable.
  • Honey: This sweetens the flavor just a little bit.
  • Frosting: If you want to add a frosting for a bit of decoration, you’ll need more peanut butter and honey, plus hot water and cornstarch.

Note: Dogs can have allergies just like people, so while these ingredients are all safe for dogs in general, make sure you know what your furry friend can and cannot eat. I recommend giving them a small bite to test these treats out before you start using them regularly.

Flavor Variations

While peanut butter dog treats seem to be a universally-loved flavor, you can absolutely change up these biscuits for your pup.

Use other nut butters if you know your dog likes them and can digest them. We have also made them using equal amount of plain pumpkin puree or plain mashed sweet potato instead.

If you do choose to use different ingredients, keep an eye on the consistency of the dough–you want it to be quite firm and sticky. Add a smaller amount of these ingredients incrementally until it becomes firm enough to roll out and cut.

step by step photos for how to make homemade dog treats
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How to Store

Once fully cooled, I store homemade peanut butter dog biscuits in an airtight container (very important) in the refrigerator, for up to 1 month. This recipe makes 24 medium dog cookies, so you’ll have plenty to share whenever your dog needs a healthy treat.

How to Freeze

This easy recipe for dog treats can be stored in the freezer for up to 8 months. I recommend placing a pan of them in the freezer for about an hour, then transferring them to a freezer-safe bag or container. This will prevent them from sticking together, so you can grab as many as you need, and keep the rest in storage. Move them to the fridge to thaw.

peanut butter dog treats drizzled with dog friendly icing

5-Star Review

“My husband and I wanted to bond over something, so we decided to make these for our two dogs. They go crazy over these. Cannot control themselves. I took a nibble too, and they’re not bad for humans either. They stayed nice and chewy sitting in a tupperware on the counter. Our smallest dog (8lbs) doesn’t like crunchy things, so the fact these are chewy was perfect. We even gifted some to the German Shepherd next door. We will be making these again!” – Sarah

A homemade dog treat in the shape of a cookie being held by a hand alongside a dog.

These time tested dog treats have been made by thousands of dog lovers over the years and consistently rated as a 5 star (over 2000 5 star reviews!) – if only my 2 dogs could speak every time they eat these! I first made these in 2013 for my first puppy Scout (that’s her sweet face above). She was obsessed and my dogs now, Mabel and Daisy, couldn’t agree more.

Recipe Card

Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats Recipe

4.61 from 2605 votes
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Servings: 24 treats
Author: Becky Hardin
featured hoemmade dog treats
Homemade Dog Treats are the best way to show your pet that you love them like family! These Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats are an easy dog biscuit recipe that your fur baby would request every week if they could.
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Ingredients 

For the Dog Treats

  • cups whole wheat flour 300 grams (see note)
  • 1 large egg 50 grams
  • 1 cup peanut butter 270 grams (see note)
  • 1 cup water 227 grams
  • 2 tablespoons honey 43 grams (see note)

For the Frosting

  • 2 tablespoons peanut butter 34 grams
  • 1 tablespoon honey 21 grams
  • cup cornstarch 37 grams (can also use potato starch or arrowroot powder)
  • 3-4 tablespoons hot water 43-57 grams

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine flour and the egg. Add the peanut butter, water, and honey, and stir until you have a stiff dough. The dough becomes very firm and sticky. You may need to use your hands, or the paddle attachment on your mixer.
    2½ cups whole wheat flour, 1 large egg, 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup water, 2 tablespoons honey
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough about ½-inch thick and use a cookie cutter to make fun shapes. The treats barely spread and rise, so get creative with your shapes.
  • Bake for 18-20 minutes, until golden. Once done, set aside to cool. (If you have smaller cookies, use less time, otherwise the bottom might burn.)
  • To make the frosting, combine the peanut butter and honey in a microwavable bowl, and heat in the microwave in 15 second increments, stirring in between, until melted.
    2 tablespoons peanut butter, 1 tablespoon honey
  • Add the melted peanut butter mixture to the cornstarch and stir until just combined.
    ⅓ cup cornstarch
  • Slowly add in the water 1 tablespoon at a time until you have reached the consistency that you would like. For a thinner frosting, add more water.
    3-4 tablespoons hot water
  • Add the frosting to a piping bag and pipe designs on top of each dog treat.
  • Frost the treats with the peanut butter/honey mixture for an even more tempting cookie.

Video

Becky’s Tips

  • Flour: Some dogs are allergic to flour/wheat. If you want to make these wheat free, you can use rice flour of coconut flour as a replacement. These alternate flours will work, but might change the consistency a bit. Thanks so much to the readers who wrote it about this!
  • Peanut Butter: Some peanut butter brands are including xylitol to cut the sugar in their peanut butter. Do not use any peanut butter containing xylitol as it is toxic to dogs. Just check for natural peanut butter and check the ingredients. Muah
  • Honey: Avoid giving honey to immunocompromised dogs and dogs under 1 year old!
  • Typically when you are using a royal frosting for cookies, you will make two different types of frosting consistency- a thicker frosting for the outline, and a thinner frosting to flood the inside with. You don’t have to do this but this is what you can do if you would like to go the extra mile for your furry friend.
  • With the thicker frosting, create the outline of your design and wait for it to dry for about 10 minutes. When you make the thicker frosting, you probably only need 2-3 Tablespoons of water. The important thing is that it is thick enough to hold its shape, but thin enough that you can squeeze it through a piping tip.
  • Fill in the outline with the thinner frosting and smooth it out with the tip of your finger. When you make the thin frosting, you will need 3-4 Tablespoons of water, and maybe more depending on how smooth of a finish you would like to have.
Storage: Store homemade peanut butter dog treats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 months or in the freezer for up to 8 months.
Serving: 1treatCalories: 132kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 5gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.001gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 56mgPotassium: 118mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 12IUVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!
Is peanut butter safe for dogs to eat?

Yes, peanut butter is generally considered safe for dogs to eat. As I mentioned above, I recommend using a natural peanut butter. Unsalted varieties are great, and you can even find peanut butters brands that are made for dogs. Be sure to check the ingredients list, and avoid anything that contains Xylitol, or other artificial sweeteners.

Are these homemade dog cookies healthy?

Yes, all of the ingredients in this dog treats recipe are considered safe, healthy, and nutritional. Peanut butter contains essential vitamins and healthy fats, and the whole wheat flour has extra nutritional value as well. Honey contains a lot of sugar (of course), but we only use a small amount.

What kind of cookie cutter should I use?

You can use any type or shape of cookie cutter you like, including the classic dog bone shape, Christmas and holidays shapes, hearts, and more. If you don’t have a cookie cutter, use the rim of a glass to cut out circles. Find a Customized Cookie Cutter for your dog’s breed on Etsy for more fun options.

Are these peanut butter dog treats safe for people to eat?

Yes! We’re using ingredients that are safe for both dogs and people. While I wouldn’t recommend snacking on these, if a little one gets their hands on them, they’ll be okay!

Can I make these dog cookies crunchier?

This recipe makes treats that are nice and chewy. If your dog would prefer a crunchier biscuit, roll out the dough really thin. You could also keep them in the oven at a lower temperature (200°F) for a while to help them dry out and crisp up.

More Pet Treat Recipes We Love:

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.61 from 2605 votes (2,119 ratings without comment)
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Linda Hudson
Linda Hudson
July 8, 2021 10:06 pm

My recipe
2_3lbs oatmeal
Large can of sweet potatoes blended with blender
4_5 TBLS peanut butter powderMix all ingredients well now you can roll into ropes and chill or use a melon baller so size is same so cooking is even or rollout on slightly floured board cut into desired shapes bake at 320 for 20 _30 minutes chill and serve remember to add 1/1/2cup all purpose flour and a tsp baking powder to the mix too my dogs love them
4eggs4 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
July 9, 2021 11:01 am
Reply to  Linda Hudson

Sounds perfect for your pups!

lilly
lilly
July 7, 2021 1:51 pm

hi there
I was wondering how long these would last for

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
July 9, 2021 11:11 am
Reply to  lilly

A week in an airtight container, longer in the fridge, and even longer in the freezer!

a person
a person
July 5, 2021 6:48 pm

can I use oat/oatmeal flour as a substitute?5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
July 9, 2021 11:18 am
Reply to  a person

Best to use whole wheat or rice!

Natily
Natily
July 2, 2021 5:52 pm

My dog loves them very much!4 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
July 9, 2021 11:26 am
Reply to  Natily

Always love a happy, pup!

Ben Dover
Ben Dover
July 1, 2021 11:52 pm

The recipe worked great! My dog loves them!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
July 9, 2021 11:31 am
Reply to  Ben Dover

Thanks for sharing, Ben!

Cathy
Cathy
June 29, 2021 8:18 am

My dogs love these! They are not crunchy, but they don’t care. I’m going to try with sweet potato or pumpkin. Can you tell me how much?5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
June 30, 2021 10:54 am
Reply to  Cathy

However much you’d like as long as the texture is the same!

Josephine
Josephine
June 21, 2021 6:21 pm

Wait it doesn’t tell me exact measurements
how much5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
June 24, 2021 10:26 am
Reply to  Josephine

If you keep scrolling down you’ll see a recipe card that will tell you the exact measurements. I copied and pasted them for you here as well.

Ingredients
▢2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour see note below for substitutions
▢1/2 teaspoon baking powder see note
▢1 cup natural peanut butter see note
▢1 cup water
▢2 tablespoons honey
▢1 egg

janet
janet
June 21, 2021 4:28 am

Followed recipe and is now runny how can I make it rollable please

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
June 24, 2021 10:22 am
Reply to  janet

You’ll need to add some more flour to get it to the right texture! Just add a little at a time until you have the dough-like consistency.

Abby
Abby
June 16, 2021 10:56 am

Mine are soft?? I left out the baking powder but they’re not crunch. Even after leaving them in the oven for longer. Any tips?

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
June 16, 2021 3:41 pm
Reply to  Abby

You can add some more flour!

Jeff
Jeff
June 15, 2021 1:59 pm

can you use all purpose flour for these?

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
June 16, 2021 3:42 pm
Reply to  Jeff

It’s best to avoid all-purpose flour when pups are the ones consuming it!

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